Bhubaneswar, Feb 19: The Odisha Vigilance on Thursday apprehended Daitari Mallik, Tahasildar of Soro in Balasore district, for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹40,000 to facilitate the release of five detained stone-laden trucks.

According to official sources, the trap was laid today, during which Mallik was caught red-handed while accepting the bribe through his associate, Dayanidhi Jena, a private individual. The entire bribe amount of ₹40,000 was recovered from their possession and subsequently seized by the Vigilance team.

Reports indicate that the Tahasildar had detained five trucks loaded with minor minerals on February 11. He allegedly demanded ₹1,00,000 from the truck owner to avoid handing over the vehicles to the mining department, which could have resulted in the imposition of a heavy penalty. He also assured that the trucks would be released upon payment.

When the truck owner expressed his inability to pay such a large amount, the bribe demand was reportedly reduced to ₹40,000 after negotiation. Unwilling to succumb to the illegal demand, the truck owner approached the Vigilance authorities and lodged a complaint.

Acting on the complaint, the Vigilance team organized a trap and successfully apprehended Mallik while he was accepting the bribe amount through Jena.

Following the successful trap operation, simultaneous searches are being conducted at three locations linked to the Tahasildar to examine possible disproportionate assets (DA) angle.

In connection with the case, Balasore Vigilance Police Station Case No. 05/2026 has been registered under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018 against both accused—Daitari Mallik, Tahasildar, and Dayanidhi Jena, private person.